Clinch County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Clinch County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 107th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $4.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $679 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (9 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (Pineland Road Fire). About 1 in 53 homes here carry federal flood insurance (55 policies).
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Clinch County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 29.0 | $2M | ||
| Hurricane | 82.3 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 29.9 | $313K | ||
| Cold wave | 15.2 | $95K | ||
| Drought | 50.9 | $95K | ||
| Lightning | 35.4 | $82K | ||
| Heat wave | 28.3 | $75K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.1 | $72K | ||
| Strong wind | 11.1 | $51K | ||
| Wildfire | 54.2 | $37K | ||
| Hail | 13.3 | $27K | ||
| Winter weather | 4.8 | $2K | ||
| Ice storm | 1.9 | $492 | ||
| Landslide | 0.1 | $0 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Clinch County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 18
Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1974
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 240 storm reports in Clinch County since 1974 and about $1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on December 5, 2005 near Dupont.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2005 | F2 | Dupont | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 28, 1997 | F1 | Argyle | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 2016 | EF1 | Cogdell | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 9, 2024 | EF1 | Cogdell | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 24, 2000 | F0 | Dupont | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Argyle | $500K |
| Apr 28, 1997 | Tornado | Argyle | $150K |
| Jul 20, 2018 | Lightning | Homerville Arpt | $150K |
| Jun 5, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Homerville | $25K |
| Jan 2, 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Homerville | $25K |
| Dec 24, 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Homerville | $20K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 19, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1852, 10 hurricanes and 61 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Clinch County, 30 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with top winds near 125 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Category 3, 125 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 2, 1898 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 29, 1896 | Unnamed | Category 3, 115 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 30, 2023 | Idalia | Category 2, 105 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 10, 1852 | Unnamed | Category 1, 90 mph | 62 mi |
| Oct 9, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Category 3, 125 mph | 64 mi |
| Aug 5, 2024 | Debby | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 30, 2023 | Idalia | Category 2, 105 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 9, 2021 | Mindy | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 54 mi |
| Jul 7, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 64 mi |
| Nov 12, 2020 | Eta | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 64 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Clinch County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Clinch County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 3,037 housing units.
Compare in Georgia
All 159 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | Inland flooding | |
| Gwinnett County | Inland flooding | |
| Cobb County | Inland flooding | |
| DeKalb County | Inland flooding | |
| Clayton County | Inland flooding | |
| Chatham County | Hurricane | |
| Cherokee County | Inland flooding | |
| Forsyth County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia County, FL | 35 | |
| Ware County | 22 | |
| Baker County, FL | 38 | |
| Lanier County | 15 | |
| Atkinson County | 17 | |
| Echols County | 17 |
Common questions about Clinch County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Clinch County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Clinch County, about $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $1.6 million.
How many federal disasters has Clinch County had?
Clinch County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 9 major disasters. The most recent was Pineland Road Fire in April 2026.
Is Clinch County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 107th highest of 159 in Georgia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Clinch County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 53 homes in Clinch County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Clinch County had?
NOAA records list 9 tornadoes in Clinch County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on December 5, 2005 near Dupont. The weather service has also logged 49 hail reports and 5 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Clinch County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 10 hurricanes and 61 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Clinch County, including 3 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). The strongest was Hurricane Helene (2024), with winds near 125 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.